As part of our current phase of Big Birmingham Bikes, funded by Birmingham City Council, The Active Wellbeing Society has provided 12 new bicycles to patients living with Severe Mental Illness (SMI). The scheme brings together our Free Bikes scheme in Birmingham and the work of our Physical Health Connectors alongside Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Our Physical Health Connector team support people living with an SMI to attend their annual physical health checks. People living with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) experience some of the most severe and persistent health inequalities in the UK. Multiple studies and national datasets consistently show dramatically reduced life expectancy and a disproportionate burden of preventable physical illness, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and liver disease. By removing personal and systemic barriers and building trust with patients, we are able to make physical health checks more accessible to those living with an SMI, and reduce their level of health risk.

“These patients often fall through the gaps…”

By working alongside Physical Health Connectors, the bike team were able to identify patients who would benefit from a bike.

Lisa Sanders, a Physical Health Connector for North Birmingham, explained: “These patients can be very hard to engage with and often fall through the gaps to getting the right support. [The] Physical Health Connector team works hard building up rapport and supporting the patient with any barriers. Between ourselves and the bikes team we found a process that works better for our patients by using their Physical Health Connector to communicate every step of the way to receiving their free bike.

“Offering SMI patients a free bike when they have completed full annual physical health check enables them to live healthier, longer lives and get out within the local community.”

“Having a bike has given me a positive reason to get outside…”

Since receiving their bikes in April this year, the recipients have shared the impact it’s had on their lives.

Ash, a bike recipient, said: “I’m incredibly grateful to the team for the support they have given me. Having a bike has given me a positive reason to get outside, be more active, clear my mind, and take some time away from everyday stresses. The kindness and generosity of the team have meant so much to me. Thank you to everyone involved for making this possible.”

Our bikes team was able to supply Elizabeth with a bike and also source a pre-owned one for her son too, which has enabled them to enjoy riding together, she said: “I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed having the bike and how helpful it’s been for me. I really value exercise as part of looking after my mental health, and having the bike has given me something positive to focus on and a reason to get outside and be active, especially on days when I’m not feeling great.

I also really appreciate that the scheme offers something different from just being given medication or a tablet. For me, exercise makes such a difference to how I feel mentally, and having the equipment there makes it much easier for me to actually do it.

The fact that you also found a pre-owned bike for my son, who is autistic, has been amazing. It means we can go out cycling together, which we’ve both really enjoyed, and gives us something positive to do together.

I’m genuinely really grateful for the bike and for the support. It might seem like a simple thing, but having something like this available has made a really positive difference to me. I think any further funding or support that could help people access exercise and activities like this would be amazing. For me, being able to have practical ways of staying active and looking after my mental health is so valuable, and I really hope schemes like this can continue.”

You can find out more about Big Birmingham Bikes and other Free Bikes schemes here.

You can discover more about our community health initiatives, including Physical Health Connectors, here.